4 hours agoErdogan angers Merkel, calls on Turks not to vote
Periskopi(9 years ago)
(9 years ago)Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Turks in Germany to vote against major parties in next month's elections and called Angela Merkel's enemies. During a harsh speech following Friday's prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan urged ethnic Turks in Germany to give [...]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Turks in Germany to vote against major parties in next month's elections and called Angela Merkel's enemies.
During a harsh speech following Friday's prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan urged ethnic Turks in Germany to lecture these parties.
“I tell all my ambassadors in Germany: Christian-democrats, SPD and the Green Party are all enemies of Turkey. Support those parties that are not enemies to us”, Erdogan said.
Erdogan's statements, among the strongest made so far against candelare Merkel, prompted sharp reactions by her German leader, her government and several Turkish organisations in Germany, that highlighted the deep crack between NATO allies and close trade partners.
“We will not tolerate any kind of intervention”, it was Merkel's strong reaction during a rally in the western town of Heford, while Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel named comments as an unprecedented intervention in Germany's sovereignty.
Ties between Ankara and Berlin deteriorated significantly after the failed coup of the state, when Turkish authorities dismissed 150 thousand people from office, including German citizens, imprisoned him.
The Germans vote on 24 September in the general elections, where Merkel is running for a fourth term. Polls speak of a comfortable advantage of its conservative party against the Social Democrats.
